25 Best Dressed

Check out our picks for the women who really got it right in 2007

Cate Blanchett has never been one to play it safe—she's worn Balenciaga straight off the runway, considers Missoni maternity wear, and worked Jil Sander's transparent trend at the premiere of Elizabeth: The Golden Age long before it hit stores.

Left: Blanchett in Armani Privé at the Rome Film Festival

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25 Best Dressed

With a hit HBO show and a new line of clothes for Opening Ceremony, Chloë Sevigny officially moved into the mainstream this year—but her sense of style is still anything but. She couldn't care less what the red carpet critics think and wears edgy trends with a confidence few other celebrities could muster.

Left: Sevigny, wearing Balenciaga at a Cartier cocktail party

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25 Best Dressed

Gwen Stefani is one of those rare style icons that can straddle the line between old-world glamour (complete with a signature red pout) and rock-infused cool. She also brought her sense of personal style to countless shoppers this year with LAMB and her first line of fragrances.

Left: Arriving at the NRJ French Music Awards

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25 Best Dressed

It's no surprise that Jennifer Connelly was chosen to be the face of Balenciaga's spring 2008 campaign—the actress pulls off their harder-to-wear pieces (like the sculptural-yet-soft floral dress from their Spring 08 collection) with astonishing aplomb.

Katherine Heigl made the red carpet her personal runway this year: She was photographed in Zac Posen, Escada, and Valentino, and made some of the year's biggest beauty trends (bright lips, soft waves) look totally wearable.

Left: At the Movieline's Hollywood Life 9th Annual Young Hollywood Awards

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25 Best Dressed

With a few extra pounds finally added to her teeny frame, Kate Bosworth can (and does) wear just about anything.

2007 was undeniably Olivier Theyskens's year—and, as a direct result, Reese Witherspoon's year. The designer's much buzzed-about debut collection for Nina Ricci came to life on the starlet, from a sunny yellow cocktail frock to gorgeous flowing gowns.

Left: Witherspoon at the 2007 Oscars in a Nina Ricci gown by Olivier Theyskens

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25 Best Dressed

You have to hand it to Tilda Swinton for refusing to follow the pack. Forget trite goddess gowns—she understands smart tailoring and favors fashion-forward suits from Jil Sander and Lanvin.

Left: Swinton at the Ocean's Thirteen premiere at the Cannes Film Festival

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25 Best Dressed

Her sister may have owned 2006 with baggy sweaters, oversized sunglasses, and the chic-ification of homelessness, but this year, Ashley Olsen's style was the one to emulate. She made friends with Christian Louboutin and brought a decidedly modern feel to the term "ladylike elegance."

Left: Olsen at the 2007 Golden Globes wearing Reem Acra

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25 Best Dressed

At just five feet three inches, American Idol winner Carrie Underwood has managed to pack a lot of style into a very small frame. She successfully made the transition from just another teen star to a sophisticated woman.

Left: Carrie Underwood in Naeem Khan at Movies Rock

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25 Best Dressed

Leslie Feist has charmed as much with her wardrobe this year as she has with her quirky, melodic voice. She has recently moved past her signature monochrome ensembles into more grown-up territory, while still maintaining her indie-rock credibility.

Left: Feist in Chloé, at the Guggenheim Young Collectors Artist's Ball

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25 Best Dressed

Messy public breakups be damned—Michelle Williams has never looked better.

Left: Williams at the Film Independent's Spirit Awards wearing Chloé.

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25 Best Dressed

Bright lip: check. Pixie cut: check. Sleek black dress with a strong silhouette: check. Kelly Osbourne played with plenty of trends this year while still somehow looking every bit the individual.

Left: Osbourne at the Chicago London 10th Anniversary Gala evening

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Clemence Posey gained fame in the states for her appearance in a Harry Potter film, but it was becoming the face of a Chloé fragrance that truly cemented her place on the style scene.

Left: Posey in Chanel at the Spring/Summer 07 couture show

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25 Best Dressed

Call it an obvious choice, but no best dressed list is complete without the inclusion of Miss Moss. 2007 was the year she launched a new line for Topshop, gave herself a brand new set of bangs, and made menswear look new all over again.

Left: Kate Moss in one-of-a-kind Topshop dress at the Fashion Rocks fashion show and concert

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25 Best Dressed

The next generation of New York socials definitely knows how to milk a photo opportunity. Byrdie Bell has become one of Patrick McMullan's favorite subjects, and with just cause: She tries out plenty of fashion-forward pieces, and looks like she was born to wear them.

Talk about transformation: Katie Holmes went from mildly dowdy in 2006 to completely chic in 2007. Being a close, personal friend of the Armanis couldn't hurt...

Left: Holmes wearing Monique Lhuillier at the Bambi Awards in Germany

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25 Best Dressed

She's a former model, the former wife of a prominent public intellectual, and a former under-the-radar style star. This year, Padma Lakshmi, Top Chef host and cookbook author, became a known fashion entity, showing off her gorgeous gams in the kitchen and her sublime taste on the red carpet.

Left: Padma Lakshmi at the after-party for the New York premiere of I'm Not There

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25 Best Dressed

Love her or hate her, Victoria Beckham knows how to turn heads. Whether she's in Hervé Léger, Proenza Schouler, or her own dVb line, she always has her gorgeous bod on full display.

Left: Beckham in New York City

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25 Best Dressed

Thandie Newton is a rare example of an actress who can pull off Chanel couture with a ponytail, already knows who Jonathan Saunders is, and regularly gives love to British designers like Preen, Giles, and Nathan Jenden. Her skin is flawless, her makeup is minimal, and her clothes are always on point.

Left: Thandie Newton in Preen at the Toronto Film Festival

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25 Best Dressed

Natalie Portman has always been able to pull off looks well beyond her years and look effortlessly sophisticated. Even an awkwardly growing-in buzz cut couldn't keep her from being chic on the red carpet this year in Calvin Klein, Prada, and a seemingly endless stream of Lanvin.

Left: Natalie Portman at the premiere of The Darjeeling Limited, in Lanvin

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25 Best Dressed

Anja Rubik wears gorgeous designer clothes for a living, so it's little surprise she's gotten rather used to it. Aside from this year's Chloé ads, the Polish beauty managed to make skinny jeans and ballet flats look completely new.

Left: Anja Rubik at the Golden Age of Couture Party at the Victoria and Albert Museum

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25 Best Dressed

Rachel Bilson shops for sport—it's well documented that the teeny brunette loves to scour vintage shops, mix high and low, and hardly wears the same thing twice. She also counts Zac Posen among her friends and just this year started cozying up to Karl Lagerfeld.

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